I compared different homemade instant hot chocolates (Image: Shania King-Soyza)
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I am obsessed with hot chocolate and will drink it no matter the weather (yes, even through the summertime). Nothing will stop me from craving a cup of the chocolatey goodness before bed. Now, it's the festive season, and cold wintry nights have truly begun, most Brits will be heading out to grab their favourite brand of instant hot chocolate from their local supermarket.
But you should never settle for familiarity or price alone, as you're missing out on the best quality, taste and texture the chocolate world has to offer. I recently made a £150 cup of hot chocolate at home, but have I gone too far? Is there a limit to my choco madness? And can your favourite retail brand compete? Discover more below to find out which hot chocolate brand is truly the best.
Homemade cup of costa hot chocolate (Image: Shania King-Soyza)
7. Costa
As my go-to coffeehouse for a caramel latte, Costa rarely disappoints, but their instant hot chocolate is much to be desired for. According to Sainsbury's Online shopping, Costa's instant hot chocolate is meant to be "deliciously rich and creamy".
It reads: "Packed with the very best cocoa beans certified by The Rainforest Alliance, (their) much-loved recipe is sure to hit the sweet spot." However, this hot chocolate is far too rich and thick for me.
Whether I followed the instructions on the packaging or adjusted the ratio to my personal taste, this drink always ended up tasting quite disgusting. Its texture always felt like paste as the powder was difficult to dissolve completely, no matter how hot the milk or water I used.
The hot chocolate was very bitter, but did not need extra sugar, so it may be enjoyable for dark chocolate lovers. However, for £3.85, I'd rather get a different brand. Call me a harsh critic, but it's just not very good, and with a three-star review on Sainsbury's website, some shoppers seem to agree.
One person said: "I was disappointed with this hot chocolate. The consistency was excessively thick and difficult to mix thoroughly. After finishing the drink, I discovered a substantial amount of undissolved powder clinging to the side of the cup, resembling cake mix."
Sainsbury's Taste The Difference hot chocolate - is it worthwhile? (Image: Shania King-Soyza)
6. Sainsbury's Taste The Difference
When it comes to luxury on a budget, Sainsbury's excels with its Taste the Difference range. A spokesperson for Sainsbury's shared: "We share your passion for enjoying the most flavoursome, best quality food and drink, and we guarantee every product has a distinct taste story... that's why you can taste the difference."
"Distinct" is the perfect word to describe this hot chocolate. It has familiar bitter notes to Costa, but it still boasts a velvety and creamy texture that stands out against its competitors.
As seen in the picture above, it is quite dark in colour but can still be frothy and smooth. My family and I do not particularly like this hot chocolate, but it boasts five stars on Sainsbury's shopping site, despite being more on the expensive side at £4.25.
One person commented: "Highly recommend absolutely gorgeous spot on, definitely buy again, but only when on offer. These prices are getting ridiculous."
Cadbury Hot Chocolate was disappointing (Image: Shania King-Soyza)
5. Cadbury
Cadbury is the go-to hot chocolate in my house due to its size and price (£4.50 for 500g); however, it's not the best quality. The packaging calls for three teaspoons to make a delicious cup, but the powder definitely lacks flavour, so I end up putting six in total.
This is its major downfall, as for a popular chocolate brand, I expected better-tasting chocolate, but you have to double the ingredients for it to be enjoyable. However, it is sweeter than other brands, and it also offers a nice velvety texture when made correctly.
A customer who gave Cadbury a two-star rating out of five shared: "Just too sweet compared to some drinking chocolate. Consistency reminds me of the one they gave us in primary school (pre Jamie Oliver). I find I often cannot finish a mug if I make it because it's just too sweet."
A cup of Starbucks Hot Chocolate delivers on taste (Image: Shania King-Soyza)
4. Starbucks
Surprisingly, Starbucks comes in at number four. So far, I have complained about the bitter hot chocolates above, but this one is simply nicer than the rest. After tasting this hot drink, I gathered that I do like rich chocolate if it is done correctly, and Starbucks delivers.
Speaking on its hot chocolate, the brand shared: "Enjoy an indulgent-tasting mug of Starbucks Signature Chocolate 42% Cocoa Powder to round off your evening. Inspired by the Starbucks Hot Chocolate you love, we've crafted this velvety and smooth hot chocolate powder for you to prepare at home.
"Our selected cocoa powder delivers a velvety and smooth chocolate taste. Simply stir with warm milk for the ultimate indulgent-tasting experience. Enjoy your Starbucks favourites at home. Nestlé uses Starbucks trademarks under license."
This is not the best hot chocolate I have ever had, but it is definitely pleasant. It retails around £4.70 for just the powder, but I recommend adding cream for a lighter and sweeter touch.
Milo is a lesser known brand but delicious (Image: Shania King-Soyza)
3. Milo
Milo was a childhood staple for me growing up. For those unaware, it is a "Chocolate Malt Beverage with skimmed milk, vitamins (C, B3 B6, B12, D, riboflavin) and minerals (calcium, iron and phosphorus)"
This hot chocolate differs from most as it is suggested to be made with hot water rather than milk which I prefer (my stomach cannot handle a lot of milk or oat milk).
It is a little bit sweet but well-balanced. The malt in the drink makes it extremely creamy and frothy. It is the perfect cup to have before bed, as it makes you feel a little sleepy.
However, its major downside is its price at £5.75. I also wish it had a stronger flavour, but it's quite mild compared to the second-place winner.
Maltesers was so close to winning (Image: Shania King-Soyza)
2. Malteasers
Coming in a respectable second place is Malteasers Hot Chocolate. I love this brand so much; not only is it the perfect amount of sweetness, creaminess and flavour, it is also one of the cheapest to buy out of the list, priced at £3.60.
You can really taste the malt honeycomb but this does not overpower the chocolate. However, other buyers have complained for his high calorie percentage. One person said: "As I watch my calories, I usually buy Options or Galaxy Light versions of hot chocolate. These are 40 calories per drink, which is made of two teaspoons of powder.
"I love these, but I felt tempted to try the Maltesers. It is not a calorie-watching version and it asks for four teaspoons..."
However, I am not one for watching calories when it comes to hot chocolate. Its absolutely delicious and is deifnieltly a crowd pleaser in my home with a tub of 360g being finished in three days.
Hotel Chocolat's hot chocolate is out of this world (Image: Shania King-Soyza)
1. Hotel Chocolat
Given that price is a key component in my judgment, it may come as a surprise that the £150 cup of hot chocolate is my clear winner. However, let me break down the price for you.
Hotel Chocolat is offering a brand new Velvetiser system for £149.95 with a "Podcup, Podglass (one glass for hot drinks and another for cold drinks) and 10 drinking chocolate single-serves (five hot, five cold)".
I was fortunate to test out the Velevtiser system, and my mind was completely blown. The machine produces the best hot chocolate I've ever had in my life, surpassing anything made at home from instant hot chocolate brands or even at coffee shops, cafes, and the cups I've enjoyed in Paris.
The thing I hate the most about instant hot chocolate is the clumps of powder that are left in the cup, regardless of whether you heat your drink in the microwave, on the stove, or use a kettle. However, with the Velvetiser, you are getting the perfect cup of hot chocolate every time.
Expect the creamiest, yet velvety, cup of hot chocolate that is perfectly blended and hot enough to drink in just two minutes. It was so simple to make at home, but with the quality being outstanding, you feel like you're a well-trained chocolatier.
You can get both hot and cold brews (Image: shania king-soyza)
The price is quite steep, but considering this is a unique machine that no other appliance can replicate, with 10 sachets and two high-quality cups, it is quite reasonable to buy. You can even make a delicious chocolate milk with their cold setting.
In the box of sachets, you receive different flavours of chocolate flakes, including Classic 70%, Milky 50%, Salted Caramel, Vanilla-White, Black Forest Gateau, Mint, Classic, Banana, Mandarin, Orange, and Crème Brûlée. If you run out of sachets, you can explore Hotel Chocolat's range of different flavours, which also includes 10 packets in a box for £14.95, equivalent to approximately £1.50 per cup.
It is not recommended by professionals, but you can also make chocolate flakes at home from your favourite bars and place them in the Velvister. For this taste test, I only compared the plain chocolate flavours, such as the 70% and 50% milk, which were truly exceptional, with the perfect flavour profile and balance between the rich notes and sweetness.
A spokesperson for Hotel Chocolat shared: "Our real chocolate flakes and Velvetiser work in harmony to create inimitable cacao depth and velvet-smooth texture, topped with an unrivalled cushion of chocolate crema.
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"The secret? We call it the vortex-effect. The Velvetiser’s InnerPod ridges and custom-designed whisk meld the chocolate and milk while heating to the precise melting point for chocolate. While the whisk’s petals form ultra-fine air passages, the ridges them back condense down for that velvet-smooth texture."
If you would like to taste chocolate heaven in a cup, that even Willy Wonka would be envious of, click here to discover more about Hotel Chocolat's Velvetiser.